Improved apparatus foe producing gas from petroleum



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H. HIRZEL.

Gas Retort.

Patented May 14-, I867.

WITNESSES.

N. PETERS. PHOTO UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C- initrh grates igstent @ffitr.

HEINRICH H IRZEL, OF LEIPSIC, .SAXO'NY.

Letters Patent No. 64,672, dated May 14:, 1867.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GAS FROM PETROLEUM.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, HEINRICH HIRZEL, of Leipsic, in the Kingdom of Saxony, have invented a new and improved Apparatus for the Production of Illuminating Gas from Petroleum; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This-invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the production of illuminating gas from petroleum and petroleum residue, and consists of a,mechani'sm for pumping petroleum or petroleum residue into a retort heated to a red heat in a continuous jet. Being there immediately converted into gas, it is conducted to a condenser, where it is cooled and purified, and thence led to the gasometer. In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front view; and

Figure 2, .a'top view of my improved apparatus.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 2: a: of fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section in line y of fig. 3 and Figure 5 is a view of the bottom of the petroleum cistern or reservoir.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a bench of retorts, preferred cylindrical, firmly closed by screw-covers, and set in a common vaulted furnace. Each retort is furnished with a mouth-piece having a socket, S, cast on the top to receive the stand pipe B. On top of every couple of stand pipes is an hydraulic main, C, the bell-valves D dipping into the oil in the hydraulic main, in which the oil is kept at a constant level below the top of the stand pipe, such that in case of one retort not being in work, the pressure of the gas issuing from the working retort shall not force the oil to the level of the mouth of the other stand pipe. This will also suflice toprevent any gas from the condenser E finding its way back to the retort. A discharging tube 0, reaching to the level at which it is desired to retain the oil in the hydraulic main, conducts the excess as it is condensed from the gas to the oil-cistern O, A steam gauge, not shown in the drawing, may be connected with the tube B, whereby the pressure ofthe gas may be observed at any moment. From the hydraulic main 0 the gas is led to the condenser E by the connecting tube F. The condenser E is a high cylinder, provided'with a double bottom, perforated like a sieve, as-shown at H, figs. 1 and .Z, for the purpose of distributing the gas uniformly in. its passage through E. The space above the perforated bottom is filled up with some porous material, as coke, or with bricks loosely piled on one another, for the purpose of cooling and cleaning or filtering the gas before it passes to the gasometer. The oil condensed from the gas collects at the bottom,.and is conducted by the tube I, trapped at K to prevent the escape of the gas to the oil-cistern G. The cover of the condenser E can be set in an hydraulic main for the more easily filling and emptying the condenser. It may also be furnished with a man-hole, L, for the like purpose. There should be one condenser for every two retorts. G is a reservoir or cistern, provided with a cover, and destined for the reception of the petroleum or residue used for the production of gas. V V are pumps feeding the retorts A, one pump to each retort. Each pump is furnished with a water-tight piston, I, the red of which is attached to a cord, M, playing round pulleys in combination with the clock-work mechanism N, and held in a vertical position by a guide. The clock-work N being wound up, draws up the piston when the oil flows from the cistern G into the barrel V. The pump-rod is now charged with weights W, when the clock-work is set in motion, and the piston-rod forces the oil through the feed-tubes Q into the retorts heated to a red heat in a uniform jet about the thickness of a quill. .The wings R serve to regulate the descent of the weighted piston-rod, or the same may be ellccted by ordinary clock-work, with pendulum and cscapement. The clock-work can be stopped at any moment it may be desired to cease working the retort. The tubes Q communicate at q with the pumpbarrel V, the valve q )rcventing the return of the oil. To prevent the hardening of the petroleum in cold weather, the cisterriiGg-is walled and surrounded by a flue connecting with the furnace, so that by opening a damper the hot air from the furnace is made to circulate round the cistern.

I a small supply of gas only is required, a single retort may be used, in which case the hydraulic main is disp'enscdwith, aiid t'he gas passes directly into the condenser E, provided at its bottom with an hydraulic maimtoprc'vent the return of the gas.

I I- do not confine myself, to the shape, configuration, or proportional dimensions of any of the parts of my ation, or proportional dimensions figured in the drawings accompanying this specification, as the same objects may be obtained by the use of parts of different shape and configuration and proportional parts, or the same may be differently disposed with regard to each other, or supplied alent devices, as above indicated; but by the use of my improved apparatus, composed as set forth, or of gas from petroleum is obviated, or at least immeasurably diminished, The gas produced needs no purification, can be employed at once in the smallest as well as in the largest works, and possesses an illuminating power more than five times exceeding that of ordinary coal gas. and is thus neither intrinsically explosive nor injurious to health, furniture, boolcs,metals, or colors. Itundergoes no change in preservation, is not condensed by the coldest weather, needs but little fuel, and is incomparably cheaper than any other gas hitherto manufactured. From the simplicity of the apparatus, and the small space occupied by it, my improved apparatus can be installed at much less original cost and exec tin the retorts never re uircs clcanin Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1'. The um 13 V and feed hes Q feedim the )etroleum in a continuous et to the retorts A in combioa- 7 7 Q J t-ion with said rctorts substantmll as above set forth and described.

7 2. The clock-work mechanism N or its e uivalent for workin the mm )s V in combination with said 7 7 a pumps, operating in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth and described.

3. The wings R, regulating the clock-work mechanism N, in combination with said clock-work.

'ng tube F, the latter setting into thehydraulic main 0, where 4. The condenser E, combined with the connecti the bench consists of more than one retort; or where one only is employed, the condenser E furnished at its bottom with an hydraulic main, substantially as set forth and described.

5. The hydraulic in'uin G, in combination with the excess pipe or discharging tube 0, stand pipes B, bellvalves D, and connecting tube F, or their respective equivalents, all substantially as set forth and described.

0. The trapped tube I, in combination with the condenser E and cistern G, substantially as described. The above specification of my invention signed by me this 15th day of December, 1865.

' l'IEINRIGl-I IIIRZEL.

improved apparatus, to the shape, configur by equiv with equivalents, all danger in the manufacture It contains no ammonia or sulphur,

Witnesses:

Osnnn Lumen, F. WEnDnn. 

